What should the Lib Dems do about UKIP?

Here’s what I told The Observer about the political challenge on many people’s minds:

There is a debate in the party about the extent to which it should now portray itself as part of the establishment, having spent four years in government, as opposed to a radical force for change. Mark Pack, editor of the newsletter Lib Dem Newswire, says Lib Dems should not bother battling Ukip for the anti-immigrant vote but instead make clearer it is not now part of the establishment.

“Some of Ukip’s support – that from those who say ‘I once met a nice Romanian, but…’ – is the kind the Lib Dems should not be chasing,” he says. “But much of Ukip’s support is anger at the political establishment, something the Lib Dems used to funnel. Now, far too often, the party sounds like it likes being in the establishment rather than wanting to change it.”